Means for locking a pivoted wrench jaw in slidably adjusted position



1951 A. G. GOODNIGHT 02 MEANS FOR LOCKIN PIVOTED WRENCH JAW IN SLIDABLY USTED POSITION Filed Jan. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mgmxmxmrmrmx I INVENTOR.

A0571 6. GOOQIV/GHT BY M; Mr

A. G. GOODNIGHT MEANS FOR LO Oct. 2, 1951 2,569,692 CKING A PIVOTEDWRENCH JAW IN SLIDABLY ADJUSTED POSITION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1948 INVENTOR.

Aufir/zv 6. 6000mm BY M M/M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MEANSFOR LOCKING A PIVOTED WRENCH 3 AW 'INSLIDA'BL'Y ADJUSTED POSITION Austin-GaGoodnight, Hanford, Calif.

Application January 28, 1948, Serial No. 4,840

8 .Claims. I

The present invention relates to tools and more .gparticularly .-t wrenches, having special reference to wrenches of the type exercising :a bind grasp on articles'emb'raced.

Wrenches having application to articles of various sizesprovide various means for spatially positioning the jaws. Such wrenches generally provide a screw-threadedmeans for :varyingsaid spacing. Such adjustable .structuresiare subject to certain clifiiculties, the elimination .of which the present inventionv is =zgenerally'directed. The adjustable structures are exposed to dirt and (foreign material which :subjects the same .to jamming and other resistance to easeiof operation. .The. jaws of .such' wrenches are .not .speedily .adjusted to appropriate.- spacedlrelation. ..Once .adjusted, subsequenthandlin rfrequentlyresults:in .displacementof the jaws fromadiusted position. Wrenches having .jaws .-adjustably spaced iby screw-threaded .means rare .not :readily adapted to wide ranges .of .jaw spacing. When wide ranges are provided, considerable time is required'to run the jawsirom one :limit to'the other. The sloppy fit of such .screwethre aded means generally employed in .order .to facilitate operation, is .not conducive to accuracy of spacing .of the jaws n0r to the:accurate:maintenance of the-spacing once adjusted.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provide an improved wrench :of "the .type employing adjustably spaced j aw members.

'Another object is to provide an improved wrench exercising a binding grasp on articles engaged.

Another object is toprovidea wrench of the character and for the purposes set forth that is characterized -by convenience andsspeed -of spacial adjustment of the jaws thereof.

Another object is to provide a wrench in which the jaws are dependably'maintained in position once adjusted.

Another object is to eliminate or materially .to reduce jamming as known in conventional wrenches having adjustablypositioned jaws.

.Another object is to .provide a wrench .having jaws adapted for a widerange ofspacingand further, to provide forexpeditious utilization-of said wide range.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofa'wrench-embodying the principles of .the present-invention.

Fig. 2 is anedge elevationof-thewrench'shown in Fig- 1.

'Fig. 3 is a -fragmentary enlargement of the wrench having a portion thereof removed to reveal internalworkin elements.

Fig. 4 is asection takenon line 44 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlargement illustrative of a springloading of thelower jaw of the wrench relative to the .shank portion of the upper jaw thereof.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 65 of Fig.3.

Fig. 7 15a fragmentaryenlargement of a portion of a wrench illustrative of a second form of locking mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. -7.

Referring in greater-detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 1, an upper jaw member is shown-generally at It} having an angularly related shank portion H and jaw-portion 12. The jaw and-the shank are preferably of unitary construction and in substantially right-angular relation. The jaw provides a downwardly disposed serrated gripping surface conducive to the grasping of engagement articles such as pipe'and the like. The shank portion'is preferably ofuniform'shape throughout its length for the slideable mounting of a lower jaw member thereon, as presently more fully described.

The shank has 'a longitudinal opening [5 formed therethrough underlaid at opposite "end portions, as shown in'Figx3, by web formations 86. As previously described the upper jaw and the shank portion are of unitary construction and may be 'consideredan upper jaw member. Said member, formed withthe opening and "the webs, is'of simple configuration readily adapted to formation by stamping, casting, forging, or the like.

A handle ll of any suitable form is secured on the endportion of the shank l l opposite the jaw l0 and in substantial alignment with said shank. For purposes of convenience said end of the shank is referred to as the lower end thereof. The'handle and shank are united in any suitable manner, such as 'by a tang and securing; nut arrangement not shown,1and are preferably. separable to the end that the jaw membersof the present invention may readily be disassociated.

A lower jaw member is illustrated generally at [9 comprising alower jaw 2i! anda slideormount ing portion 2 l The slide is mounted on the shank II for longitudinalslidable positioning thereon. The lower end portion of the shank is preferably slidably fitted to the shank and the upper end portion thereof slidably fitted to the sides of the shank but loosely fitted to theedgesthereof whereby the slide may-pivot on theshank so as reciprocally to position the lower jaw downwardly-outwardly and upwardly-inwardly in relation to the upper jaw member.

In order to urge the lower jaw outwardly and downwardly from the upper jaw member, as viewed in Fig. l, preconditioned for the reception of an article to be grasped, a spring 22 is mounted on the slide interpositioned said slide and the shank at the side thereof adjacent the jaws. The preferable arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 5. So associated, the jaws I2 and may be spatially related as desired by positioning the slide longitudinally of the shank. The slide is pivotally positionable relative to the shank to achieve the stated reciprocal positioning of the lower jaw 29. It will be clearly apparent that the reciprocal positioning of the lower jaw 20 is constrained to limits defined by the fit of the upper end portion of the slide to the edges of the shank. The jaws l2 and 20 may be provided with pipe gripping serrations, as shown in Fig. 1, or of any configuration suited to the purpose.

To the end of locking the jaws in selected spaced relation, a pair of sprockets 25 are journaled on the web formations IS in the opening |5 of the shank II in longitudinally spaced positions. As shown in Fig. 4, the sprockets are conveniently mounted by means of spindles 26 secured in the webs by sweating or other suitable means. So mounted the sprockets and their spindles are contained within the opening [5 of the shank and in no Way obstruct longitudinal positioning of the slide 2|.

An endless flexible chain 27 is mounted by the sprockets 25 for circuitous travel within the shank A pair of adjacent idler sprockets 30 are rotatably mounted by spindles 3| within the slide in engagement with the chain 21' on opposite sides of each of the sprockets 25. Thus it will be seen that as the slide is longitudinally positioned on the shank the idler sprockets 30 travel along the chain in response thereto. To facilitate the mounting of the idler sprockets 36 in the slide after the chain 21 has been mounted in the shank I and the slide 2| fitted thereover, a plug member 32 is screw-threadedly engaged in the side of the slide which upon its removal provides access to the opening l5 of the shank through the side of the slide.

To the end of locking the idler sprockets against rotation, a braking structure suitable to the purpose is-shown in Fig. 6. An indentation is provided in the plug 32 as at 33 and a further indentation 34 provided in the slide oppositely disposed thereto. A pair of guide plates 35 and 36 are positioned in the indentations 33 and 34 respectively and are guided in reciprocal inward and outward travel in the indentations by the walls thereof. A pair of braking shoes 31 and 3B are extended from the plate 35 through the plug 32 into abutting relation with the pair of idler sprockets 30. A pair of braking shoes 39 and 46 are extended from the plate 36 through the opposite side of the slide 2| from said plug into abutting relation with the opposite sides of said idler sprockets. A brake rod 42 is extended through the plug 32 and the opposite side of the slide 2| for axial movement and mounts the plates 35 and 3E concentrically thereon. The brake rod provides a head 43 outwardly disposed the plate 36. Helical compression springs 44 are interposed the plates and the sides of the slide adjacent thereto. The springs urge the braking shoes outwardly to disengagement from the idler sprockets 30. An eccentric 45 having a handle portion 46 extended therefrom is pivotally mounted on the end of the pin opposite its head 43 outwardly disposed the slide 2| and in engagement with the plate 35. When the handle portion 46 is outwardly extended from the slide, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 2, the eccentric releases the brake rod and the springs 44 disengage the braking shoes from the idler sprockets. In such condition the slide is free to move longitudinally of the shank spatially to position the jaws I2 and 20 as desired. When the handle portion 46 is depressed, as shown in full line in Fig. 2, the eccentric urges the plate 35 inwardly and through the head 43, draws the plate 36 inwardly, bringing the braking shoes 31, 38, 39, and 40 into cooperative gripping relation with their respective idler sprockets 3|], locking the same against rotational movement.

Operation The operation of the wrench is clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. The eccentric 45 is pivoted to release the shoes 31, 38, 39, and 40 from idler sprocket engagement by extending the handle portion 46 outwardly from the slide 2|. The slide is longitudinally posi tioned on the shank spatially to position the jaws l2 and 26 appropriately to the size of the object to be grasped. So adjusted, the handle 46 is depressed and the idler sprockets locked.

The wrench is engaged with the object to be turned and preferably rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. As such rotational movement is initiated, the lower jaw through its serrations grasps the object and urges the lower jaw upwardly and inwardly in pivotal movement relative to the slide 2|, as previously described. The slide thus pivots about a point in its lower end portion. Such pivoted movement slightly reduces the spacing of the jaws resulting in a binding effect on the article grasped. The flexibility of the chain 21 readily accommodates itself to said pivotal movement. Further, the chain is permitted to travel circuitously about its sprockets 25 any small distance required further to accommodate said pivotal movement. The binding grasp of the wrench on an article is readily released by efiecting opposite turning movement of the wrench thereon.

Attention is drawn to the equalizing of opposite forces on the chain 2! by permitted travel about the sprockets 25 when an effort is made to move the slide 2| on the shank II when the sprockets 30 are locked. Such equalizing of forces dependably maintains the jaws in pre-adjusted spaced relation but for the minute variation permitted by the pivoting of the slide 2| on the shank Second form of locking mechanism A second form of mechanism for locking the slide 2| on the shank II is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Idler sprockets 50, similar to idler sprockets 30, are mounted in the slide in engagement with the chain 21 oppositely disposed the sprockets 25 about which said chain is circuitously traveled. The idler sprockets 50 are preferably of a size causing the same to mesh where inwardly adjacent. Thus, as the slide is longitudinally positioned on the shank the idler sprockets rotate as before but in accurately timed relation by their intermeshing.

' A brake rod 5| is positioned in the slide 2| in substantially parallel relation to the axes of rotation of the idler sprockets 50 and adjacent to the intermeshing of said sprockets. The rod is mounted for axial movement in the; slide. A locking cog 52. is: journaled on the pin in fixed longitudinal position thereon as maintained. by thrust. collars 53. The locking cog is adapted simultaneously to. mesh with the idler sprockets 5.0. and. preferably has. sharpened teeth as at 5% to facilitate. meshing engagement. To. urge the locking cog from engagement with the. idler sprockets 5.0,. a. helical compression spring is provided' circumjacent the pin 5|. in abutting. relation between a side of the slide and. a spring. seat. 56.. mounted on said, pin. As shown in dotted line in Fig. 8., the helical compression spring urges the locking. cog; from engagement with they idler sprockets 59 To the end of bringing. the. lockingcog into idler sprocket. engagement, an eccentric 57,. similar to the eccentric. 45 alreadydescribed, is. pivot.- ally. mounted. on. an end of. the pin 5 l' engageable with. a side of the slide 2] Said eccentric preterably provides a manipulating handle, not shown, but similar to the handle portion 46. shown in Fig. 2..

To. longitudinally position. the slide 2| on the shank ll the. eccentric. is. pivoted tov release the pin. which, under the. urging of the. spring, moves. the pin axially a sufficient distance. to disengage the cog 52 from. the idler sprockets. The. slide :2! is then longitudinally positioned on the.- shank i I spatially to position the. jaws l2 and 23, as before. To. lock the idler sprockets 5i) and thus to secure the jaws: l2. and 26. in spaced relation, the eccentrio is pivoted to. move the rod axially bringing the locking cog into idler sprocket engagement. It will be clearly apparent that when the locking cog is engaged with the intermeshing idler sprockets, the triad of the pair of sprockets and the cog forms a locked association precluding rotational movement. of any of the elements thereof. Said locked association, however, in no way precludes any required minute travel of the chain 21 about the sprockets 25 in accommodating: pivotal movement of the slide.

Itwill be clearly apparent that where it is not necessary to have the jaws l2 and 20 bind upon an article to be turned, the slide 2 I may be fitted to the shank l l for longitudinal movement thereon without the previously described pivotal movement relative thereto. Further, the serrations on the jaws are suited to rotational movement of pipes and the like. The present invention is not limited to wrenches adapted for such use. The jaws may readily take the form of conventional monkey wrench jaws or provide any other particular configuration desired.

The wrench of the present invention is speedily adapted to a wide range of jaw spacings merely by releasing the idler cogs and longitudinally positioning the slide on the shank l I. The jaws are speedily locked in desired position by depressing the handle portion 46 and locking the idler sprockets. The slide 2| surrounds the working mechanisms which are housed not only in the slide but by the shank II in its opening [5 aswell, and shields the same from dirt and the like found to inhibit easy spacing of the jaws in conventional wrenches. As a result, jamming of wrenches embodying the principles of the present invention can only occur in extremely aggravated conditions, such as permitting the wrench to rust severely. The wrenches of the present invention are speedily adjusted, accurately maintained in adjusted position, provide a wide range of adjustment, and readily embody binding action on engaged articles when desired. They are relatively, simple in. structure and economical to produce.

Although I have herein. shown. and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most. practical and preferred embodiments, it. is recognized that. departures. may be. made there.- from within the scope. or my invention, which. is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded. the full. scope of the claims.

Having described. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to. secure. by Letters Patent. is:

1. A wrench comprising a pair of slidably associated. jawmembers, a pair-of spaced sprockets rotatably mounted by one of said members, an endless chain. mounted. on the sprockets defining parallel. runs of the chain, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted in. the other jaw member individually in meshing engagement with opposite runs. of the chain, and means borne by said. other jaw member engageable with. the idler sprockets to secure the. same against rotation.

2; A wrench comprising a pair of slidably as,- sociated jaw members, an endless. chain, meansfor mounting the chain for circuitous travel on. one or said jaw members so as. to present two substantially parallel portions. of the. chain in. substantial alignment with the relative slidable movements. of the jaw members, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted on the. other jaw member in engagement with the parallel portions of the chain, and means for simultaneously securin the. idler sprockets: against rotation.

3. A wrench comprising an. upper jaw member having a shank portion. in substantially right. an-. gular relation thereto, a lower jaw member mounted on the shank portion of the upper jaw member for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to spacially position the jaw. members, a pair of sprockets rotatably borne by the. shank portion of the upper jaw member in 101'1gitudi-- nally spaced positions, an endless chain mounted about the sprockets so as to have opposite runs, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted by the second jaw member individually in meshing engagement with opposite runs of the chain between the mounting sprockets, and means for locking the idler sprockets against rotation. in the second jaw member whereby the jaws are secured in selected spaced relation by oppositely directed forces applied to the chain by the idler sprockets upon attempted movement of the lowerjaw mem her on the shank portion of the upper jaw member.

4. A wrench comprising an upper jaw, a shank extended from the upper jaw in substantially right angular relation thereto, a slide member longitudinally positionable on the shank, a lower jaw extended from the slide at the end thereof adjacent the upper jaw in cooperative arrangement with said upper jaw, said slide having a lower end portion slideably fitted to the shank and an upper end portion loosely fitted to said shank for movement of the lower jaw laterally to the shank, resilient means interposed the slide and the shank urging the lower jaw laterally from the shank, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted in the shank in longitudinally spaced positions, a chain mounted by the sprockets for circuitous travel thereabout, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted in the slide in engagement with the chain on opposite sides of the sprockets, and means borne by the slide manually operable to lock the idler sprockets against rotation whereby the jaws are locked in spaced relation.

5. A wrench comprising a shank, a slide longitudinally positionable on the shank having a lower end portion slideably fitted to the shank and an upper end portion loosely fitted thereto for pivotal movement of the slide relative to the shank, a pair of adjacent jaws, one thereof laterally extended from the upper end of the shank and the other thereof laterally extended from the upper end portion of the slide, a resilient means interposed the upper end portion of the slide and the shank at the side thereof from which the jaws are laterally extended, a

, pair of sprockets rotatably mounted in the shank in longitudinally spaced positions, and an endless chain mounted by the sprockets for circuitous travel, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted on the slide in engagement with the chain oppositely disposed the mounting sprockets, braking means borne by the slide abuttable with the idler sprockets, resilient means located between the slide and said braking means urging the braking means away from the idler sprockets, and a manually operable eccentric borne by the slide member operable to force the braking means into idler sprocket engagement whereby rotation of said idler sprockets is precluded and the slide secured in adjusted longitudinal position on the shank achieving desired spatial positioning of the jaws.

6. A wrench comprising a shank having a longitudinal opening formed therethrough, a slide mounted on the shank and longitudinally movable thereon, a pair of jaws, one thereof being laterally extended from an end portion of the shank and the other thereof laterally extended from the adjacent end portion of the slide, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted in the shank at opposite end portions of the opening therein, an endless chain mounted by the sprockets for circuitous travel about the sprockets, a pair of adjacent idler sprockets rotatably mounted in the slide in engagement with the chain between the mounting sprockets, a rod mounted for axial movement adjacent to the idler sprockets and extended through the opening of the shank, brake shoes oppositely disposed the idler sprockets slidably mounted by the rod for movement axially thereof, resilient means urging the shoes from engagement with the idler sprockets, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the rod and abutting a side of the slide whereby pivoting of the eccentric urges the brake shoes into locking engagement with the idler sprockets.

Jul

'7. 'A wrench comprising an upper jaw member having a shank portion in substantially right angular relation thereto, a lower jaw member mounted on the shank portion of the upper jaw member for slidable movement longitudinally thereof for spacial positioning of the jaws, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted in said shank portion in longitudinally spaced positions, an endless chain mounted about the sprockets for circuitous travel, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted by the lower jaw member in meshing engagement with the chain between the sprockets, a locking cog mounted in the lower jaw member engageable with the idler sprockets, and means for moving the locking cog to and from idler sprocket engagement.

8. A wrench comprising a shank having a longitudinal opening formed therein, a slide mounted on the shank for longitudinal movement thereon, a pair of jaws, one thereof longitudinally extended from an end of the shank and the other laterally extended from the adjacent -end of the slide, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted in the shank near opposite end portions 01 the longitudinal Opening, an endless chain mounted on the sprockets for circuitous travel thereabout, a pair of idler sprockets rotatably mounted in the slide in meshing engagement with the chain between the sprockets, a locking cog engageable with the idler sprocket rotatably mounted in the slide, and manually operable means for selected engaging and disengaging of the locking cog from the idler sprockets.

AUSTIN G. GOODNIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,957 Giles Oct. 30, 1888 708,252 Palmer et al Sept. 2, 1902 811,461 Wagy Jan. 30, 1906 877,457 Sievert Jan. 21, 1908 1,025,709 Miller May 7, 1912 1,153,399 Melheim Sept. 14, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,233 Denmark Mar. 17, 1919 

